The Girl with Wings: How Dejana Backo Defied Fate through Art, Sport, and Love

Dejana Backo has never allowed the physical circumstances of her birth to dictate the boundaries of her potential. Born without arms on December 9, 1994, in Novi Sad, Serbia, she spent her formative years navigating the complexities of being different. However, she eventually transformed those early questions into a profound sense of self-awareness, realizing that her disability was not a definition of her identity, but a unique canvas upon which she could build an extraordinary life.

Her journey began with the stroke of a brush. At the age of nine, she joined the Society of Mouth and Foot Painters, a pivotal moment that set her on a path toward professional artistry. Her dedication led her to graduate from the Design Art School in 2014 and further her education at the Academy of Fine Arts in Novi Sad. Today, her expressive works have been featured in solo exhibitions across nearly 20 cities in the Balkans, proving that true vision requires no hands, only a soul.

Beyond the gallery, Dejana earned the nickname “the girl with wings” through her historic achievements in the sporting arena. In 2016, she turned her sights toward para taekwondo, a discipline that pushed her beyond her perceived physical limits. By 2019, her relentless determination culminated in a world title, as she became Serbia’s first world champion in para taekwondo at the championships in Turkey. Competing in the K41 category, she became a national symbol of perseverance, proving that even the most daunting obstacles can be overcome with unwavering belief.

In February 2023, Dejana embraced her most transformative role to date: motherhood. Welcoming her first child meant making the difficult choice to step away from professional competition and sacrifice her dream of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Yet, she views this transition not as a loss of momentum, but as the most meaningful victory of her life. While her athletic career is currently on pause, her spirit remains unbroken. Dejana Backo continues to inspire the world, proving that motherhood, art, and sport are all simply different ways to fly.